Improvement in cork hats



PATENT A. C. GRONDAL, OF NE'W YORK,N .Y.

lMPFOVEMENT IN CGPLK HATS.

Specification forming` part ofLcttcrs Patent Ned1? ,'M E dated November8, 186 i.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, A. C. GRONDAL, ofthe city, county, and State of NewYork, have invented a new and Improved Cork Hat; and I do hereby declarethat the following' is a f'ull, clear, and eXcet description thereof',which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of thisspecification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of' a corkhatconstructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of amodification ot' the same. Fin'. 3 is a tranvcrse vertical section ofone of its sides on a larger scale than the previous figures.

Similar letters ef reference indicate like parts.

This invention consists of a cork hat made ot' two layers oi' cork,which are prepared with oil and packed or otherwise attached to an i11-tcrvening' piece ot' canvas, muslin, or other textile fabric in such amanner that a hat is produced which is durable, elastic, and imperviousto water and to the rays of the sun.

By preparing the cork with oil all the hardness is removed from thesame, and it is rendered soft, elastic, and impervious to water.

The cork is first cut up in slices of thc requisite thickness by meansof' suitable machinery, and it is then prepared with oil. In order toeffect this purpose, I mix animal oil with spirits of turpentine orother volatile hydrocarbon liquid, and, after the cork has beenintroduced in this mixture, I apply pressure, either by mechanical or byhydrostatic means, until the cork is thoroughly penetrated with the oil.It is then removed and left to dry, when it is ready, for use. By thispreparation all hardness is removed from the cork, and it is renderedsof't and elastic. rIhe slices a of cork thus prepared I attach bysuitable cement to an intervening piece, b, of muslin, canvas, ontextile fabric, and thereby a material is obtained which can be workedinto a hat oi' any desirable form or shape.

A hat produced according to this invention is impervious to water and tothe suns rays; it is light and agreeable to wear, and, if desired, itcan be covered with any desirable textile or other material.

It is obvious that the animal oil in this preparation does notevaporate.

I would remark that l use the same preparation f'or cork mattresseswhich was securt d to me by Letters Patent dated the 22d September,1863.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of cork inthe manufacture of hats; but

I claim as new and desire to secure by Ietters Patent- A cork hat madeof prepared cork, as herein shown and described.

A. COURLANDER GRONDAII.

litnessesz JAMES I. HALL, WM. F. MCNAMARA.

